The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Kenyan chapter has spoken out a day after Chief Justice David Maraga launched into a tirade over frustrations that the judiciary is facing.
In a series of tweets on Wednesday, ICJ reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the Kenyan judiciary is allowed to function independently without direction from other arms of government.
It revisited the threats that President Uhuru Kenyatta apparently issued to the judiciary after his presidential victory was annulled by the Supreme Court.
At the time of nullification, the head of state had described the Supreme Court judges as a cabal of thugs hellbent on thwarting democracy.
ICJ said that the threats were alarming, appearing to suggest that the frustrations that CJ Maraga outlined could be the realisation of Uhuru's threats.
"Even more alarming were the threats from the Presidency on a number of occasions and in public spaces that his government, upon winning in the fresh elections, would ‘deal with the rogue judges and the Supreme Court, " the ICJ tweeted.
This comes in the context of a widespread perception that the frustrations that the judiciary is facing are aimed at controlling it.
The commission called on Kenyans to remain vigilant so as to ensure that the judiciary is not weakened.
"Kenyans citizens must remain vigilant and loudly protest against any attempt, from any quarter, to impede, frustrate or diminish judicial independence. #ProtectOurJudiciary," the ICJ wrote.
In his State of the Judiciary address, Chief Justice David Maraga did not mince his words, saying that the judiciary was being frustrated with the clear aim of controlling it.